Irish students bond while learning about American culture in Rochester

Thursday

Nov 1, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Liz Markhlevskayalmark@fosters.com

ROCHESTER — Ten students from Northern Ireland are beginning to form bonds despite differences, with a little help of the local culture.

On Saturday, Oct. 20, five Catholic students and five Protestant students began a two-week journey, during which they are immersing themselves in local New Hampshire culture and learning about themselves and each other.

The group of 10 teenagers from Carrickfergus borough in Northern Ireland were chosen to participate in the Friends Forever immersion program through a vigorous application process. Now, they are all staying in one house in New Castle, where they live together, cook together, and explore the local community together, while developing bonds with each other despite differences in religion.

On Wednesday, after the students toured Rochester’s schools and police station, they were welcomed at Mel Flanagan’s Irish Pub & Café, where they were treated to a dinner accompanied by several city officials.

Colin Bangham, program coordinator of the Friends Forever program, said that despite some improvement in tensions between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland over past years, Irish citizens can still enter disputes by wearing certain clothing that represents certain religious views, and arguments about religion are not uncommon.

“The hurt that’s left inside people gets passed down from generation to generation,” said Bangham.

Still, he noted students who are part of the Friends Forever program will be the next generation to have children, and it’s likely that they can be the ones to spread the message of diversity and tolerance to citizens in their own community.

Joe Glass, 14, a Protestant student from Ireland, said he joined the Friends Forever program because, “I wanted to learn more about Catholics and learn what they think of us.”

“I’ve always known there is not that much of a difference (between religions), it’s identical in many ways,” said Glass.

Part of the program’s two-week itinerary is attending religious services for both religions, as well as serving the local community by volunteering.

Since coming to New Hampshire with nine other Irish students, Glass said he has made friends with a Catholic student from Ireland, and the two now have “deep meaningful conversations,” which they have dubbed, “DMC time.”

Martin Smith, a 14-year-old student, said growing up in Northern Ireland it’s common to see arguments — and even physical fights — start over religion. But Smith said he, and other students participating in the Friends Forever program, are “above that.”

“We can do more than tolerate each other — we can be friends,” said Irish student Shaunelle Degnan, 15, who said she joined the program to make a change in her community.

Even after these students come back to Northern Ireland following their two-week stay in New Hampshire, they will be participating in the Friends Forever program at home, in doing community work and talking to fellow Irish citizens about their experience of diversity and acceptance in the United States.

“Ultimately we’re trying to make wherever we live a better place,” said Degnan.

While visiting local schools, including Spaulding High School, on Wednesday, Degnan said she was shocked that students in New Hampshire oftentimes don’t even know the religions of their friends.

Smith said he was amazed at how friendly students in New Hampshire have been.

“It was exactly what I thought of an American school,” said Smith after visiting Spaulding High School. “The marching band was amazing.”

For Degnan, spending time with students in the Monarch School, which serves students with disabilities, has been the most memorable experience in Rochester. She and other students from Northern Ireland got to paint pumpkins, read books, and even dance with students from the Monarch School on Wednesday.

Mayor T.J. Jean was among several city officials who came to Mel Flanagan’s Wednesday evening to welcome the Irish students to the local community. Jean said after meeting Irish immersion students last year, and hearing their stories, he couldn’t resist coming to this year’s event.

“These kids are absolutely wonderful and their stories are so heartwarming,” said Jean.

Stephen Martineau, director of the Friends Forever program, said students from Northern Ireland began immersing themselves in New Hampshire culture as part of the Friends Forever program in 1986. The experience, he said, “changes their lives.”

“Whatever challenges we face, it’s still a place where people can come … and not be afraid of what religion you are,” said Martineau about the United States.